30 April 2012

"Say what? Abercombie asked you out? How did that happen?" Millie leaned against the kitchen counter, clutching a cup of coffee, the following morning, "You're not considering going out with him are you? You really ought to take your time Amber and you can't forget what he said to you that night with Fitch, which brought on that massive panic attack... is this even sensible?"

"She's not a kid Mills," Liam spoke upon entering the kitchen in just grey sweats, clutching an iPad. He kissed his wife, "I say, go for it, what have you got to lose? You don't owe him but he's obviously made an impression on you, otherwise why would you be passing it through Mills."

"That's true, I never considered it like that," Amber replied, "I don't know yet."

"Do it! He may actually be good for you... obviously you'll never know that, if you're just lying around here doing nothing," Liam joked.

"I'm not out to help the situation, I'm here to help Amber. She obviously wants in but is to scared to make that leap.," Liam looks seriously at Amber, "I say, you should go for it. What have you got to lose? Either way, you'll find out whether he's worth it or not."

***

Cade sat on the bench around the corner from where Amber lived with Millie and Liam in the town house in Chelsea. If he leaned forward, he could just about see it. He'd been sitting here for twenty minutes, phone in hand and he was casually dressed. If casual was his worn jeans, leather jacket and a checkered shirt, he'd go so far as to say he was casual smart. He didn't want to come across as a complete lazy tosser by wearing sweat pants on the first day, but hey, he'd like to make a good impression. He even wore his smart trainers, they'd be doing a lot of walking today and he wanted to be comfortable.

The sky was the bluest he'd seen in a long time, he was always indoors working, to really appreciate the sky, the sun. Today was going to be a day of firsts, in a long time. He was going to appreciate the city, which he hadn't in a while. And the even better, he was going to enjoy figuring out Amber.

He looked at his watch, she was five minutes late. He hoped she was coming, otherwise it would be a very lonely day.

***

"Damn! I'm late," exclaimed Amber as she flicked the eyeliner brush and applied some blusher.

"What's the big deal, you said you weren't bothered about this," Millie chipped in.

"I'm not," Amber replied, "But sometimes it pays to make an effort and I don't exactly want to turn up looking haggard."

"I don't know... I'm not exactly what you call 'beautiful' am I?" Amber said, looking at herself in the mirror.

"Beautiful is not conventional... and you are not conventional. You look much prettier without all that slap, y'know," Millie objected.

"Slap being the make up right? I really ought to get used to you Brits and your slang words," Amber said, getting a facial wipe and clearing off the make up. She applied sunscreen and put on a bit of tint, a stroke of bronzer and some clear lip gloss and hoped for the best.

"Y'know slap is better when it doesn't look like slap... like how you've done it now," Millie observed.

"Do I look okay?" Amber spun around.

Millie smiled, "You look great. You're nervous aren't you?"

"Can you tell?" Amber frowned.

"This is a big step and I'm going to be a supportive friend... I should have been at the beginning. I just don't want you..."

Amber put her hands up, "I don't want to think about it anymore... I just want to get on with my life. Wish me luck!"

"Good luck," Millie called out after her, as she ran out of the house.

The sunlight was blinding as she skipped down the stairs and towards the park. It was warm and maybe she had overcompensated with the layers she'd worn. She couldn't help herself, she was always cold, no matter the weather. She took off her jeans jacket and strode over to the park, where she had arranged with Cade she would meet him. The park was a buzz with activity, families were scattered around playing all sorts of throw-and-catch games. Amber looked at the bench beside the entrance and noticed a couple kissing, they were sucking each others faces... wasn't that where Cade said he would be waiting, to meet her? She peered closer at the man and realised it wasn't Cade and she breathed a sigh of relief. She edged closer into the centre of the park and eyed the faces, none of them vaguely resembling Cade.

The sun was shining, causing flickering light beams on the lake, making her squint in the daylight. And then she noticed him. He was helping out a little boy and they were both crouched down by the edge. Cade had a branch in one hand, whilst the other was shielding the little boy from falling into the pond. Something tugged at her and she couldn't help but watch. Cade managed to move the football towards them and the football bounced in the water and into the boys hands. She could clearly see the delight written all over the little boy's face and then watched as the mother of the little boy, thanked Cade profusely. Amber turned on her heel and went back to their arranged meeting spot, thankfully the couple had disappeared and she took a seat, patiently waiting for him to come back.